Jean Fugett’s 2013 NFL Season Preview
By Jean Fugett; thanks to Charlie Campbell – @draftcampbell
WalterFootball.com is proud to partner with former Redskins and Cowboys tight end Jean Fugett, Jr. Esq. Fugett grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and attended Amherst College. He was the last pick of the 13th round in the 1972 NFL Draft. Fugett made the Cowboys as a backup to future Hall of Famer Mike Ditka. Fugett eventually became a starter for Tom Landry’s Cowboys and started in Super Bowl X. He made the Pro Bowl in 1977.
As a free agent, Fugett went from being the lowest-paid starting tight end to the highest-paid with the Washington Redskins. While playing for legendary Redskins coach George Allen, Fugett attended law school at George Washington University at night.
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During and after his playing days, Fugett worked with CBS, the Washington Post and other media. He went on to serve as Director and Vice-Chair of the McCall Pattern Company Management Committee, founded a Baltimore law firm and partnered with Fanfone in Europe. After the death of his brother Reginald F. Lewis in 1993, Fugett took over TLC Beatrice International Foods, the largest black-owned and black-managed business in the world at the time. Fugett has served on committees with the NFL Players Association and on the Leadership Council for the American Diabetes Association Maryland Chapter. |
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WalterFootball.com would like to thank Redskins general manager Bruce Allen and senior vice president/executive producer of media Larry Michael for connecting us to Fugett. Now, let’s let Jean take over.
Around the League
We enter this season in one of the most unusual times in the history of the National Football League. On one hand we have thousands of injured players suing the league; now most recently, we have a second class of players – who have been injured as a result of playing football – suing the league and there is a lot of evidence that the league has withheld the history of concussion injuries in the NFL. Many people don’t realize that NFL players did not have a right to their own medical records until the HIPAA law was passed, and I believe that was in 2005. So therefore, many players don’t have any idea how many concussions were suffered.
In 1972 when I was a rookie for the Dallas Cowboys, I was assigned a Riddell suspension helmet which I learned would really only protect me if I was turned upside down and dropped flat on my head. It wasn’t put together that well and my head rocked back and forth inside it. I almost broke my jaw as a result from a head slap (now illegal) by Claude Humphries of the Atlanta Falcons.
Today, we now find that helmets come with a warning on the side that say you can actually die by putting it on and using it; we let kids play this sport. I know that’s another subject, but I did not let my sons play tackle football until they were in high school.
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From watching training camp this year, I do think that NFL training camps are easier from a physical standpoint and that lowers the risk of preseason injuries. I wonder if there have been fewer injuries because of the limitations. In 1972, there were no limitations on hitting or rules about water breaks. We had practice for two hours or more in weather close to 100 degrees with no water. This year is going to be a year where the better coaches have even more of an advantage than in the past. I remember Bum Phillips going against Don Shula and Philips said that Shula was such a great coach “he could beat me with mine or ‘hisin’.” I had to go check what �hisin� meant – I was from the East Coast a rookie playing for the Cowboys in Dallas, Texas. I found out he was saying Shula was so good, he could win the game with either team. The NFL right now is a lot like that. The coaches that know how to prepare and work teams hard are usually the most successful coaches. I was fortunate to play for Tom Landry and George Allen. George Allen was one of the first coaches to sleep at the office. |
Former Redskin and Cowboy tight end Jean Fugett was a Pro Bowler in 1977 and a starter in Super Bowl X. |
Even with the changes, the game comes down to the same thing the first game ever played came down to: blocking and tackling. I’m going to be looking at the teams that know how to block and know how to tackle, despite the lack of contact in practice. That’s where the coaching comes in. The conference with the best coaches will be the most competitive conference, and as a result, those teams will end up being the best teams during the 16-game-season marathon.
Another big change is the use of the read-option and pistol offenses. When New England signed Tim Tebow, it tells you the top teams want to have the ability to run the read-option somewhere on their roster. One of the challenges with the read-option is that you can’t get a genuine look at it in practice. Ask the Giants with as good a defense as they have; they tried last year to practice for Robert Griffin III running the read-option, but they had never seen anything like that until they saw it in that game. It is extremely difficult to prepare for that during the week.
The last time we saw innovation of this level in the NFL was when Steve Young perfected the West Coast offense. Prior to that most teams ran sweeps and traps and seven-step-drop passes on third down. The 49ers changed all that with short quick passes off three-step drops with a lot of crossing routes. It was a different paradigm that led to San Francisco’s Super Bowl run. That Bill Walsh coaching tree changed the league.
AFC Preview
It is very easy to pick New England, and a lot of people are doing so nationally. A big part of it is they have two games against the Bills, Jets and Dolphins. That’s 5-1. I think that even though the Patriots will do well during the season, they won’t go far into the playoffs because their team is built to win the division, but not to win in January.
The AFC North teams are geared toward winning in the playoffs with Baltimore and Pittsburgh having had that success. Cincinnati is a young team that is developing the same mentality. I like the Ravens and Bengals to come out of the AFC North. To me, Pittsburgh is looking like an 8-8 team. I think Cleveland could go 7-9. I think the Browns are going to win some games this year. I like Norv Turner running the offense and the Browns have some good players. After playing their division, everybody else is a lot easier. In my day, we called those games a ‘stat game.’
In the AFC South, there are teams that lack continuity. The Texans are the exception, but the other three teams – who really knows. However, I do think the Colts will challenge the Texans. I worry for the Texans. When Houston signed the aging free agent safety Ed Reed, it was an indication the Texans were willing to spend money and take risks to win. When you are emotional about wanting to win, sometimes you don’t make smart decisions. I wonder when we will see Ed Reed play his first game this year. He could miss significant time, and he has not had the opportunity to bring them what they needed the most: his leadership. When teams make questionable front-office decisions, the players notice that and it hurts their ability to have confidence going forward wondering if they have what they need to compete.
In the AFC West, I think the Chiefs can challenge the Broncos to win the division. I think Andy Reid is one of the top-five coaches in the league. Last year, the Chiefs had a good defense. In the NFL, defense is going to win more than good offense. If you have a good defense, you’re more than half way there. If you have some good special teams and can avoid turnovers on offense by controlling the ball on the ground, you’ll be tough. If Jamaal Charles is healthy, they have all of that with a proven winner at quarterback. I do not see the Chargers being a surprise; it is very difficult for first-year coaches to be successful. Oakland is rebuilding and they will not be a surprise.
Right now, I do not like any team better than Baltimore, so I pick the Ravens to win the AFC. I think they will beat the Broncos by more than 10 points on opening night. I’m not sure Denver can run the ball and dropping back Peyton Manning against that pass rush, the Ravens can’t wait. When you see Terrell Suggs on one end and Elvis Dumervil on the other with Haloti Ngata on the inside, I don’t know the last time I’ve seen something like this. They have the ability to collapse a pocket and they are eight deep on a defensive line that can stay fresh in the high altitude. With Lardarius Webb back, I like their back end also. As it stands today, they are my favorite and I think they’ll have the No. 1 defense. Right now I would say the Ravens have the All-Pro coaching staff in the NFL. They have put together an incredible coaching staff in terms of brain power.
NFC Preview
In the NFC, you guys have to remember I am biased after playing four years for the Cowboys and four years for the Redskins. I believe I played in the best division in the NFL. We always felt whoever won the division was the best team in the NFC. In my days, rarely were the Giants and Eagles in the conversation. I think coach Shanahan has done a really good job in Washington. I got the Cowboys and Redskins battling out for the division. I think Dez Bryant is going to be the best receiver in the NFL this year. I like the Redskins to win the division at 10-6 with the Cowboys coming in at 9-7.
The West is a tough division with two elite teams and a big sleeper in the Rams. St. Louis could make the playoffs and I think a lot of Jeff Fisher. They have an easier schedule and that division is going to be extremely competitive.
I think New Orleans with the return of Sean Payton will take the NFC South. He is a great offensive coach and after a year off, there is no telling what he is going to come out with this year. He has been game-planning for these games for over a year. The pressure is off of Drew Brees, who had to hold the team together last year. Now, he can just play and they have a great home-field advantage. The Saints play great indoors and have 10 games in domes this year.
The game is different indoors and some teams are better suited for it. When we played in the Astrodome during the 70s, we would go out before the game started to find the pitcher�s mound and the zippers. We would try to get the defensive back to back up over the pitcher�s mound and then break. The Astrodome was a real big home advantage for the Oilers back in the day.
The Packers are going to have a disappointing year. Leslie Frazier is the best coach in the division, and with a solid defense and excellent running game, the Vikings are going to be in every game. Who knows with the Lions and Bears? Chicago always has a tough defense. I think new Bear head coach Marc Trestman could make a big difference for Cutler. Reggie Bush will make a big impact for the Lions.
One reason the Packers could have a down year is their difficult schedule. Green Bay opens at the 49ers, then open at home against the Redskins and then the play another playoff team, Cincinnati. I think the Packers have a good chance to go 0-3 going into their bye. And they are going to be sore heading into games against the Vikings and Bears. The Green Bay schedule is a real challenge. Who in the league office is mad at them? What a schedule!
I favor teams that have good defenses and have the ability to run the ball. In the NFC Championship game, I see the Redskins and the Seahawks. Right now, I am going with the Redskins and Ravens in the Super Bowl.
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Jean Fugett's Week 13 NFL Picks and NFL Week 12 Recap - 11/29
Jean Fugett's Week 12 NFL Picks and NFL Week 11 Recap - 11/22
Jean Fugett's Week 11 NFL Picks and NFL Week 10 Recap - 11/15
Jean Fugett's Week 10 NFL Picks and NFL Week 9 Recap - 11/8
Jean Fugett's Week 9 NFL Picks and NFL Week 8 Recap - 11/1
Jean Fugett's Week 8 NFL Picks and NFL Week 7 Recap - 10/27
Jean Fugett's Week 7 NFL Picks and NFL Week 6 Recap - 10/17
Jean Fugett's Week 6 NFL Picks and NFL Week 5 Recap - 10/10
Jean Fugett's Week 5 NFL Picks and NFL Week 4 Recap - 9/30
Jean Fugett's Week 3 NFL Picks and NFL Week 2 Recap - 9/19
Jean Fugett's Week 2 NFL Picks and NFL Week 1 Recap - 9/15
Jean Fugett's 2013 NFL Season Preview - 8/31
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